“I’m not worried about myself.”
Grabbing his glass, he stormed to the back windows. They slid open at his approach.
She followed him outside. “I don’t care how powerful you are. I’m sure they tracked your movement…wait,”—Tori smiled—“you wore a glove.”
He slid onto a chair by the pool. “And I used one of the temporary visitor arm bands. No one will know it was me.”
“But won’t they know who took the visitor band?” The black-bottomed pool looked so inviting, Tori longed to dive in. “They’ll know it was an inside job.”
“You underestimate me, Tori. I’m not the naive boy you knew. I have more power now than you can imagine.” He finished his drink and set the glass down on the tiles beneath his seat. “No one will know it was me.”
Relief swept over her, along with a breeze ripe with the scent of flowers and salt. The gentle crash of waves provided soothing music to the nerve-wracking events of the night. Of course, he would have beachfront property. Kicking off her shoes, Tori rolled up her baggy pant legs and sat, dangling her legs in the pool. “Still, you risked everything for me, and I’m grateful, Thomas.” She looked up at him and caught him smiling at her before he glanced away.
With all the alcohol he’d just consumed, she wondered how he remained upright. “What I still don’t understand is why. Despite our past, why risk everything for a Deviant?”
???
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Revelation 11:13
Tori’s question whirled in Thomas's head, searching for a response, any response beside the one his heart was shouting. The star-lit sky above him spun uncontrollably, and he leaned back in his chair, doing his best to avoid looking at her, but unable to stop. Besides, she was far too cute in that baggy uniform, swinging her feet in the pool like a little girl, her hair a mass of dark waves, dirt smudged on her face, and her pointed questions that went straight to the heart of the matter. She’d really not changed all that much. Well, except for the Deviant brainwashing.
Why had he done it? Why had he risked everything he’d worked for?
“I needed more time with you,” he blurted out.
She snapped her gaze to him. “I told you I’m not denying Jesus or giving you the information you want. No matter what you do for me. Or to me.”
From the look in her eyes, she meant it.
“I could never hurt you,” he murmured. With great effort, Thomas leaned forward on his knees. “You’ve been brainwashed. You are following the wrong god. I just couldn’t stand by and let them kill you until I’d tried everything in my power to save you.”
She laughed, swishing her legs through the water. “Save me? Thanks for your honesty, but you might as well just take me back to my cell now because I will never reject my God.”
Thomas huffed. That’s what many Deviants said before he’d cracked them. It was his job, one of many, and he’d been well trained. He would break her. He knew it. He just needed some time. “We’ll see.”
She drew a deep breath, then released it as wind whipped her hair. “So, am I your prisoner until you break me?”
“Just give me a week, Tori, okay? Promise you’ll stay here a week and listen to me. Afterward, if you want to leave, you can.” It’s not like he could simply walk back into work and return her anyway.
She seemed to be pondering his offer….as if she had a choice. But that was the first step in breaking someone, making them believe they had choices.
“Deal,” she finally said. “A week. But be careful”—she gave him a sly grin—“it might be you who breaks.”
He laughed. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d really laughed. It felt good.
“Why do you drink so much?” she asked.
“It relaxes me. Calms the voices in my head.”
His phone chirped. Reaching in his pocket he pulled it out. “Benton.”
“Sir,” Rodney shouted from the other end. “That prisoner you interrogated. She escaped!”
“What?! Are you sure?” Pull it together Thomas. You don’t sound very convincing.
“Yes. Somehow, she knocked out two guards. We have no idea how she got off the compound. Regent Landry just arrived and wanted me to call you.”
